The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

From the New World.

Take it for granted, that the United States cannot profit by a war, and that they must be unavoidably injured by involving themselves in that situation with any nation on earth. Whenever therefore, they are threatened by this dreadful calamity, it becomes the duty of every temperate and unprejudiced American, to exert himself for the purpose of avoiding the evil.

Our present situation with France seems to call for our exertions, for although the misunderstandings between that country and this, have been represented as a mere electioneering project, yet every well informed American sees them replete with danger to our repose. In this situation it becomes a source of real regret, that some of our newspapers, instead of stating facts on that subject, in the language of conciliation and of peace, should be constantly filled with attempts to irritate France, and to draw the public mind of our country into an unfriendly disposition towards that nation. While the President of the United States appears to be fostering a hope in favour of an amicable adjustment of our differences, these papers are perpetually endeavouring to defeat it. From whence do these attempts proceed? War cannot contribute to our interest, or to our happiness, it is not probable therefore, that they proceed from well-meaning Americans. The attempts are offensive, not conciliatory,--they tend to war, and not to peace--they must therefore be the productions of some persons inimical to a friendly settlement of our differences with France. It is both the interest and inclination of Great Britain to keep alive our misunderstandings, and these papers are known to be under the influence of British partisans, and the immediate agents of that government. Hence it is fair to conclude, that the attempts which thus oppose our true interest, and the professed object of our Chief Magistrate, proceed from this quarter, and are bottomed upon motives which cannot contribute to our political safety or welfare. While, therefore, they serve to expose the views of their authors, they should be used by the United States, as beacons to avoid the rock which is near us.

In our present situation we know with certainty, that there are unpleasant and dangerous causes of discontent existing between the United States and the French government. How they have been produced, or whether they afford any just ground for war on either side, are discussions which must be encountered in some form or other. The continuance of them without an attempt to remove them, may occasion an accumulation of the evil, but cannot promise security or friendship: Let them therefore have been produced by what means they may, or let their extent be what it will, the most interesting consideration with the United States is, how to remove them, and thereby avoid the ill consequences with which they threaten us.

War and negotiation are the two remedies which lie before. The first will not hastily be resorted to, by any lover of his country, nor will a conduct be pursued which shall force the French Republic to embrace it. The horrors of war require no new colourings to forbid them admittance into the United States, and the policy which teaches us, that it is better by negotiation to prevent, than to heal the wounds which war always inflicts, will readily produce a decided preference of the latter remedy.

If France has just reason to complain of us, or we of France, friendly explanations will discover the aggressor, and measure the degrees of injury which has ensued, amicable negotiation will then be ready to settle our misunderstandings. Before it is too late, evidences given with sincerity of a desire to remove the just causes of complaint, and to preserve and perpetuate the peace and friendship between the two countries will not fail of success. It is the true interest of the two countries, and therefore it must be their policy, to make the unchangeable rules of justice the foundation of their conduct towards each other. If either of them has been guilty of a deviation from them, truth resulting from candid and friendly discussions, will soon reclaim them from their error. It is therefore devoutly to be wished, that the government of the United States would instantly begin and pursue this course.

ARISTIDES.